Theftproof fill pipe closure



Nov. 26, 1946. E. B. CHAMBERLAIN ET AL 2,411,505 I THEFT PROOF FILL PIPE CLOSURE Filed Jan. 11, 1945 06537 M Kozme' 421 5 Omnazzmu INVENTOR.

M M W Patented Nov. 26 1946 2,411,505 THEFT-PROOF FILL PIPE CLOSURE Earl B. Chamberlain, Fort Wayne, and Robert M.

Y Kolt'er, Decatur, Ind.

Application January 11, 1945, SerialNo. 572,330

Claims.

This invention relates to a theft proof fill pipe closure for automobiles. More especially, it relates to a fill pipe closure which. does not utilize a lock of any ofthe usual types.

Numerous attempts have. been heretofore made to. prevent the removal of gasoline from automobile tanks through the fill pipe of such tanks, either by siphoning, pumping, or other methods. Usually these devices take the form of afill cap which is removable from the fill pipe, butis locked in position bya key-operated lock.

These devices are often inconvenient in that the keys theretoiarenot availablewhen required. Sometimes water accumulates in the locks and freezes. Frequently, the caps are not replaced on thefill pipe after filling an'd'become lost;

An object "of the invention is to provide a closure which, once it is installed, will never be removed. I

Another object of the'invention is to provide a closure which is easily installed;

Yet another object of. the invention is to provide a closure which opens inwardly in response to the insertion of a dispensing nozzle.

It is another objector the'invention to provide a closure which returns automatically to the closed position as soon as the dispensing nozzle is withdrawn.

Another object of the invention is to'provide'af fill pipe closure which will accept liquid at substantially the normal rate of from 12 to 15 gal- Ions-per minute and yet will prevent the inser tion of a tube or pipeof any substantial size.

Still another'objectof the invention is to'provide a closure which is not" removable after installation. v

A further object of the invention is to provide a fill pipe closure which prevents the insertion of means forremovingliquid from the associated tank. v

These and other objects'will become'apparent from a study, of this specification and the drawingwhich is'attached hereto and forms a part hereof in which? Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the fill pipe and the fill pipe closure taken substantially on the line |l of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a view taken from the bottom of Figure 1 showing the perforated portion of the stirrup.

Figure 3 is a horizontal view, partly in section and partly in plan, taken on the line 3--3 of Fig- .ure 1.

Referring now to Figure 1, the numeral I representsthe filfpipeof the usual automobilel;

which is usually a straight-sided or cylindrical welding or in any other suitable manner, a stir-- rup l3, which has a circular central plate or baffle l5, provided witha plurality, of perforations l6, and two upwardly extending arms I! which are fixed at their free ends to the ring... The arms extend substantially at right angles to the baiile.-

The arms I? are slightly less in width than the notches 1 and are spaced from each other so that the distancefrom the exterior surface .of-

one arm to that of'the other is slightly less than the distance from'theinner edge of one notch to that" of the other. Thus the notches will readily receive the arms and yet will hold the arms and the closure assembly as a whole against-rotation in the fill pipe.

Aprojection I9- i'spuhched from each of the arms l1 and projects upwardly and-outwardly. The distance'acr'oss the outer ends of the projections is greater than the distance between the edges of the notches I, so that'when the device is in' position in the fill pipe, the ends of the projections will engage the flanges 5 and prevent guideand'stem and bears atone end on the baillev I5 andatth'e other on the undersidefof the. .clo-

sure meinbefZl-T; v

The distance between the inner surfaces of the arms is greater than the maximum diameter of member 29 so that the latter may be forced downwardly between the arms.

A cover 33 is provided with an opening 35 which is smaller in diameter than the closure member 29. The cover is bowed outwardly at 31 to provide a slanting, curved surface which will assist in shedding water and which will a pleasing appearance.

The outer periphery or the cover is. crimped present I To install the closure, the usual fill pipe cap is removed and the assembly described above/is entered in the fill pipe with the arms ll riding in the notches I of the fillpipe flange 3. The assembly is then forced downwardly so that the projections l9 are forced inwardly. The gasket is compressed until the projections clear the flange, whereupon they spring radially outwardly again under the flange 3 to hold the gasket compressed and to hold the assembly in the fill pipe.

When the tank is to be filled, the dispensing nozzle is placed on the closure member 29 and force is applied thereto to depress it against the force of the spring 3i. Preferably the closure member should be depressed all the Way. When the usual nozzle valve is opened, the gasoline flows outwardly and downwardly around the baifie [5 into the tank. Some of the liquid also flows through the holes [6.

When the nozzle is withdrawn, the spring 3|, acting on the closure member, forces it upward until it contacts the cap 33 and closes the pipe. The closure member thus prevents the entry of dirt, water or other foreign matter.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the form, structure and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, applicants do not desire to be limited to the specific embodiment disclosed herein primarily for purposes of illustration; but instead, they desire protection falling fairly within the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The combination with a fill pipe having an end flange provided with opposed notches, a support comprising an element adapted to rest upon the outer side of the flange, arms fixed to and depending from said element and passing through said notches, yieldable means projecting outwardly and upwardly from the outer sides of said arms for engaging the inner side of said flange to prevent withdrawal of the support, and a baffle supported by said arms transversely of said pipe to prevent the insertion of liquid removing means.

2, The combination with a fill pipe having an end flange provided with Opposed notches, a support comprising an element adaptedto rest upon the outer side of the flange, arms fixed to and depending from said element and pass'ing'through 4 said notches, a baflle supported by said arms transversely of said pipe to prevent the insertion of liquid removing means, a cap fixed to said support and having a fill opening, a closure, said arms being disposed to guide said closure, guide means in said bafile for said closure, and yieldable means for urging said closure into closing position with respect to said fill opening.

3.-The combination with a fill ,pipe having an end flange-provided with opposed znotches, a support comprising an element adapted to rest upon the outer side of the flange, arms fixed to and depending from said element and passing through said notches, yieldable means projecting outwardly and upwardly from the outer sides of said arms for engaging the inner side of said flange to centralize the support in the pipe and to prevent withdrawal of the support, a bafile supported by said arms transversely of said pipe to prevent the insertion of liquid removing means, a cap fixed to said support and having a fill opening, a closure, guide means in said battle for said closure, and yieldable means for urging said closure into closing position with respect to said fill opening.

4. The combination with a fill pipe having an end flange provided with opposed notches, a support comprising an element adapted to rest upon the outerside of the flange, arms fixed to and depending from 'said element and passing through said notches, outwardly directed spring fingers on said arms, adapted to engage said end flange and side Walls to prevent withdrawal of the support from and to centralize said support in said pipe, a baffle supported by said arms transversely of said pipe to prevent the insertion of liquid removing means, a cap fixed ,to said support and having a fillopening, a closure, guide means in said bafiie for said closure, yieldable means for urging said closure into closing position with respect to said fill opening, said arms being constructed and arranged to serve as additional guide means for said closure.

5. The combination with a fill pipe having an end flange provided with opposed notches, a support comprising an annular element and a gasket adapted to rest upon the outer side of the flange, arms fixed to and depending from said element and passing through said notches, outwardly directed spring fingers on said arms constructed and arranged'to engage said flange to hold said support against withdrawal from the pipe, to hold said gasket compressed and to centralize said support, a bafile supported by said arms transversely of said pipe to prevent the insertion of liquid removing means, a cap crimped about and supported on said element, said cap having a fill opening, closure means, guide means in said bai'lie for said closure and yieldable means for urging said closure into closing position with respect to said opening.

EARL B. CHAMBERLAIN. ROBERT M. KOLTER. 

